The ACU Honors College is offering “A Cultural Pilgrimage,” a visual and performing arts Maymester course in New York City.
The Study America one-week course is an exploration of artistic and cultural highlights of downtown New York. Students will spend the majority of their time in Manhattan and some time in New Jersey going to museums, painting, sculpting and possibly taking an acting class.
Two professors will lead the 12- to 15-student group through their pilgrimage: Dan McGregor, assistant professor of art, and Dawne Swearingen, assistant professor of theatre.
“This is the first time the Honors College has taken their spring trip to New York,”said Kelsey Evans, administrative and events coordinator for Honors College. “They’ve taken other trips to places like Boston, North Carolina and Atlanta.”
The course will count as one Honors colloquial credit. A certain number of colloquial credits for honors students are required in order to graduate. Other colloquial credit courses this semester include global warming, film and modern culture. A vampires course will be offered next semester. Each credit is equal to about 15 total hours of class time, according to Evans.
Rachel Winkelman, freshman graphic design major from Chandler, Ariz., is looking forward to getting to see New York City for her second time.
“I want to go to museums, Broadway shows, the arts district and Times Square again,” Winkelman said. “I’m excited to grow with other honors students and get an in-depth feel of New York City.”
Winkelman liked the idea of a one-week, credited trip.
“I know that Art was going to Oxford in the summer, but I saw that one of the art teachers was going to New York, so that helped,” Winkelman said. “Only one week is good for me because I’d like to go home this summer.”
The price of the trip is about $500. Students deposit $100 with their application and $400 sometime in the spring. The Honors College will provide lodging in New York. At the end of the program, the students will get the $400 back.
The application deadline is today. Honors students may apply in Zellner Hall.
“Anyone in Honors can go,” Evans said, “but if we get 30 applications, we can only take 15.”
